Many colleges and universities strive to achieve 67% classroom utilization, which means classrooms are empty 33% of the core hours. But most of them fall short of the 67% mark, making their potential savings with Events2HVAC schedule integration even greater.

Many colleges and universities fail to implement energy efficiency solutions campus-wide, even after proving substantial energy savings and a fast return on investment. Here is a simple way to gradually implement proven solutions across campus.

Software is often used to track energy use and perform energy analysis. But the Carolina Union uses it to eliminate heating and cooling empty rooms between events – with a direct impact on the bottom line.

Average occupancy rates for conference rooms in the U.S. range from 30-60%. In most cases, that means heating or cooling systems are running in empty conference rooms 40-70% of each day. How can you stop this energy waste in your building?

To date, 684 college and university presidents have made the American College & University President’s Climate Commitment. If your college or university has made this commitment, or if you are a contractor working with an institution that is striving to achieve this goal, these three steps can help you achieve it.

A new Events2HVAC feature allows users to return HVAC equipment to unoccupied settings a specific number of minutes before the end of each event to "coast" through the end and save energy. You can’t do that with occupancy sensors!

Variable frequency drives are quickly becoming the energy efficiency standard for ventilation fans and other HVAC components. But without taking steps to maximize their effectiveness, you could still be wasting energy.

Scheduling your HVAC system either proactively or reactively can have a huge impact on energy use, labor hours, and stress levels. This article considers four common strategies for scheduling HVAC and their consequences. Which strategy do you use?

Every event deserves a comfortable environment. But how much energy is your campus or building wasting by heating and cooling empty rooms? How much money would you save running HVAC only in rooms that are being used?

Finding a way to pay for energy efficiency improvements to your building or campus can be tricky – even when the improvements will result in significant energy savings. But if you have the will, you can find a way. Here are some suggested strategies.

Events2HVAC event automation software pulls data from room scheduling software and sends commands to HVAC, lighting and security controls to automatically control the environment in individual rooms or zones based on scheduled events. The software is helping facilities and campuses across the US save money in multiple ways.

Energy analysts say there is a “rebound effect” on energy efficiency projects that reduces or negates the financial advantage. Rather than a rebound effect that undercuts expected savings, Events2HVAC has a multiplier effect that allows facilities to save in multiple ways.

A recent article on FacilitiesNet explored the relationship between making buildings “smarter” and achievement of energy efficiency and sustainability goals. The article was based on a survey of facility executives conducted by Siemens and Building Operating Management magazine, as well as discussions with experts in the field. This article examines how Events2HVAC addresses four key points from the survey and discussions.

Events2HVAC is not just for student unions. It is a solution that multiplies benefits when you expand its use across your campus. You have already made the investment in the software. It is installed and running. Why not capitalize on your investment this year by expanding Events2HVAC to additional buildings to cash in on energy savings?

Events2HVAC is spreading beyond the education and church markets. We now have our first installation at a major convention center, the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, MO. Joel Llorente, the on-site Johnson Controls facility manager, went from spending 20 hours per week scheduling HVAC and lighting systems to two hours per week. He said in a recent phone conversation, “Like Phil Robertson, I’m happy, happy, happy!”

The Energy Star Battle of the Buildings competition is a great opportunity for facility managers of all types of buildings to track and receive recognition for their energy efficiency efforts. If you are using Events2HVAC – or soon will be – we encourage you to participate!

Appalachian State University tested Events2HVAC in 20 rooms in their student union and found that the electricity savings alone resulted in a return on investment of only five months. How much can your building or campus save on electricity, heating/cooling fuel, and labor combined?

The Washington State Department of Ecology is using Events2HVAC as one component in a building automation effort designed to significantly reduce their carbon footprint. Oh, and they will save a lot of money too.

Some energy efficiency professionals believe that bundling projects with a low/slow return on investment with others that provide a high/fast return is an effective strategy for saving energy and reducing carbon emissions. Others think companies should go for the “low-hanging fruit” first, and then look for and implement additional projects that make economic sense. This article is a summary of the major pros and cons of bundling energy efficiency projects.

Most colleges and universities operate as a series of silos rather than as an integrated network of buildings. If colleges and universities are going to successfully take advantage of energy- and labor-saving technologies, facility managers need to collaborate with each other and with people in other departments too.

If you are a facility manager facing a tightening budget and an expectation of reducing expenses, how do you choose the best energy efficiency projects? This article provides some resources that can help.

Wayne Pearse, Director of Building Services for Memorial Unions at the University of Kansas, describes his 10 years of experience with event automation using Events2HVAC and it's predecessor, EMS Scheduler.

What is the weakest aspect of sustainability on college and university campuses? How can sustainability be measured and compared at these institutions? The STARS program provides a framework for answering these questions.

Why do so many buildings with automation systems run HVAC and lighting in empty rooms? Because facility managers often can't keep up with all the schedule changes required to schedule HVAC and lighting at the room level, so they schedule it for entire buildings instead. The missing link here is an integration between room scheduling software and the building automation system.

There is a lot of buzz online lately about the upcoming 2012 version of LEED certification standards, which is due to be released late this year. This blog post highlights some of the issues and discussion.

With dumb schedulingthere is no communication between schedules set by event planners and the building automation system. Smart scheduling pulls data directly from event scheduling software used by event planners, and automatically sends commands to building automation systems and HVAC equipment in each individual room, saving energy and labor. Which is better for your facility?

Property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing offers an opportunity to pay for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements to facilities, but the federal government is getting in the way of these programs for homeowners. Will you help?